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Brown rejects union EU vote call Brown rejects union EU vote call
(35 minutes later)
Gordon Brown has rejected calls from two trade unions for the government to hold a referendum on the new EU treaty.Gordon Brown has rejected calls from two trade unions for the government to hold a referendum on the new EU treaty.
The GMB and RMT had joined the Tories and UKIP in demanding a vote by tabling motions for the TUC annual conference.The GMB and RMT had joined the Tories and UKIP in demanding a vote by tabling motions for the TUC annual conference.
They say the treaty is almost the same as the discarded EU constitution, on which a referendum was promised.They say the treaty is almost the same as the discarded EU constitution, on which a referendum was promised.
But the prime minister said: "The proper way to discuss this is through detailed discussion in the House of Commons and the House of Lords."But the prime minister said: "The proper way to discuss this is through detailed discussion in the House of Commons and the House of Lords."
He added that he was confident Parliament would pass the treaty.He added that he was confident Parliament would pass the treaty.
He told a press conference: "Let's see what the TUC do. My own view is that the TUC, when it meets, will support the government."He told a press conference: "Let's see what the TUC do. My own view is that the TUC, when it meets, will support the government."
'Frustration''Frustration'
The GMB union said it was concerned the UK's opt-out from the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights was being retained in the transition from the constitution to the treaty.
The union's European officer, Kathleen Walker-Shaw, said: "The source of our motion to TUC is to raise our frustration about our government's position, which we are seeing as a clear indication that it is not committing itself to a social Europe.
"What we want is a debate. We want people to stand up and start saying what is good about Europe."
The RMT's motion asks the TUC to campaign for a "no" vote, if a referendum is held on whether to adopt the treaty.The RMT's motion asks the TUC to campaign for a "no" vote, if a referendum is held on whether to adopt the treaty.
Its general secretary, Bob Crow, told the BBC: "They [the government] went to the British people on the promise there would be a referendum."Its general secretary, Bob Crow, told the BBC: "They [the government] went to the British people on the promise there would be a referendum."
'Unreadable''Unreadable'
He also said: "What we want him [Gordon Brown] to do is implement what his manifesto was."He also said: "What we want him [Gordon Brown] to do is implement what his manifesto was."
The GMB union said it was concerned the UK's opt-out from the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights was being retained in the transition from the constitution to the treaty.
European officer Kathleen Walker-Shaw said the British government should opt back in to the charter before EU heads of state meet in October.
She added that the GMB would campaign for a "yes" vote if the government agreed to the changes it wanted, unlike the RMT.
Ms Walker-Shaw said: "The government's position is not acceptable. We are giving them the chance to change it."
She added: "We want a social Europe. What sort of message is this preaching to developing countries that we are telling to raise working standards, when a government in Europe won't even accept them for its own people?"
Earlier this month, the Conservatives accused Mr Brown of trying to push the "unreadable" revised EU treaty through "on the quiet".Earlier this month, the Conservatives accused Mr Brown of trying to push the "unreadable" revised EU treaty through "on the quiet".
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "By all the standards of the past, the commitment to a referendum should be upheld."Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "By all the standards of the past, the commitment to a referendum should be upheld."
But the government says a referendum is not needed as the treaty is different to the constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.But the government says a referendum is not needed as the treaty is different to the constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.
Gary Titley, Labour's leader in the European Parliament, said: "It's a world of difference between what was proposed in the constitutional treaty and the amending treaty."Gary Titley, Labour's leader in the European Parliament, said: "It's a world of difference between what was proposed in the constitutional treaty and the amending treaty."
He added that the EU was an ongoing "political process" which was designed to allow member states to "meet the challenges of globalisation".He added that the EU was an ongoing "political process" which was designed to allow member states to "meet the challenges of globalisation".
UKIP, which campaigns for Britain to leave the EU, is also demanding a referendum on the treaty, calling on the government to "let the people decide".UKIP, which campaigns for Britain to leave the EU, is also demanding a referendum on the treaty, calling on the government to "let the people decide".